Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-04-19
WORSE THAN SLAVES.
THE Poems OF MEXICO AND THEIR
HOPELESS LIVES.


How the Rich Of that Country Oppress
the Poor, who Are Foolish Enough ia
Become Debtors-Little to Wear and
Less to Eat.
Especial Correspondence
Ell PAso, Tex, April 8.
The citizen Of the United States who fondly
fancies that since the emancipation procla-
nation slavery has ceased to exist OH this
continent has only to come down here to Fl
Paso, look across the narrow ribbon of the
Rio Grande and see the institution flourish
ing in all its pristine ugliness. The only diff
ference between the system Of peonage OF
Mexico and negro slavery is altogether in
favor Of the latter. There were kind masters
in the south, Of course, plenty Of them, but
that does not alter the fact that when slaves
received good treatment it was, In most in
stances, because they were property" A
"likely" negro, worth all the way from 81 200
to 81 800, would no more be mistreated or
overworked than q thoroughbred horse Of
similar value.
Peonage pronounced, by the way, pea-own-
age, accent CT the first syllable,) is simple in
theory and complex in practice. It is the at
taching of labor for debt A species of judg-
ment is obtained and q mans services belong
to the creditor until the debt is wiped out So
far it might be worse. but land here is the
rub the obligation does not end with the
debtor, but, like the witch's curse in HRuddy-
gore" becomes hereditary and descends from
father to son until satisfied. This fact, and
the further fact that the bulk Of Mexican
poems are not the original debtors, but the de-
scendants Of debtors, would seem to indicate
that race of active prodigals had once ex-
listed in the land; but, OIL the contrary, most
of the debts are under $50. The incredible
poverty and ignorance of the masses is the
only explanation of this state of things Not
one in 800 can cast up the simplest form of az
counts. A peon is allowed at best only few
chackos day, and chacko is about a cent
and quarter. Out Of this his food and cloth
ing are charged up, and occasionally interest
is added to the original amount. So it can bt
readily seen that Instead Of decreasing, the
debt is gradually growing larger and larger,
and the condition of the poor wretch mort
and more hopeless.
Such is peonage, compared to which Rus
sian scrfdoln was pleasant state Of society.
The further inlani, the more poems, and the
TILED almost exclusively by them. A large
farm in these districts resembles a slave
plantation, except that no care whatever is
paid to the condition Of the people. They
are not worth it. AT the mines the same
state of things exists. and whether in the
shaft or chilli patch the peon works on, dog
gedly, hopelessly, helplessly, born to it and
knowing nothing better or beyond. Food
and clothing are both kept near the vanish
ing point. A little maize and few chill
pods suffice for one, and pair of overalls,
cotton shirt and straw sombrero for the
other. A pair Of COW hide boots are usual
reward Of merit, and as they are used only
on feast days they will last peon all his
life, and probably descend with the peonag,
to his SON. The women wear cheap calico
gowns. and the children nothing at all. A,
outlay of few dollars will clothe a whole
FAMILY FOR year, and an actual calculation
shows that they consume about eight cents
worth OF food {. week ,'ey carta.
Women can be peoned as well as men, and
yile wife and children of a peon, regardless of
sex, share his burden of bondage The rich
old Mexicans are generally on the lookout
Tor special victims. and if they take O fancy
TO any pretty girl lose no time in peoning her
nearest male relative. A good many of them
are notorious for this sort Of thing. "Honi
'oit qui NAL pense." 1t is ostensibly done
II the letter of the law, but the heart break
ing stories of all human ties discovered, of
families shattered and lives wrecked would
make many a sad volume if half the truth
we're told.
The first pcon ever saw was at Paso del
Norte, the Mexican town opposite Ell Paso. !
was talking to ranchman, when his wagon
was driven up by native, the most wretchedly
lad that had ever seen. The weather was
rather raw, but all the man had ON was
pair Of ragged and blue cotton overalls. a
hickory" shirt and a hat. He was bare
footed and breathed into his numbed hands
to warm them while he waited. had known
the rancher as liberal man and had no hest.
fancy in expressing my surprise that he
should allow one Of his servants to 90 40
dressed.
"Pshaw," he said, laughing, Che isn't ser
want, he's peOn."
"But why don't you dress him comfortably
if he isl"
"Hes dressed all right. Look at that SON.
brero. Ipaid s3 for that"
The shivering wretch had on gaudy felt.
trimmed with imitation bullion.
"But look at his pants"
CohIouhd his pants. l tell you these
Mexicans are like ostriches, as long as they
have something OIL their heads they don't care
for their bodies Give a man a sombrero
with few rosettes on it and q woman a
shawl to wrap over her head and it's all one
to them whether you give them ANYTHING
more or not. Here Pedro,' he added, speak
ing in Spanish, "have you enough clothes to
keep you comfortable?5
Isl senor," replied the man. with n or;,
had no more to say. In the interior no
mort Is made to treat poems like human
oelngs; III the smallpox, a common disease
thefe, breaks out in colony Of them, thew
are driven of into the mountains to die. Al
the mines, the barbarities are hideous and
revolving. A good deal has been told and
written OF the cruelties in subterranean 81
IBERIA, but very much doubt if the situation
OF any convict chained in an underground
gallery is nearly as appalling as that OF hun
dreds ana hundreds Of these Mexican slaves.
toiiing within days journey of the land OF
tine Tree. do not say that this is true of ali
mines; at many OF them, and particularly
those owned by American or English com
pahies, the management is humane and adj
mlraoie IN every particular, but it Is true of
some. In these it Is no unusual thing for n
peon to be murdered by some cruel task
master, IN plain sight Of his wife, who works
oy ms side, hears his dying shrek. and is
poweriess TO raise her hand to save This is
no fancy picture, but dreadful and reuated
reality. 1t is surprising how little Of this il
SHOWN, but 1t Is surprising how little Is known